In Barcelona today, Rafa's doctor - Angel Ruiz Cottoro - gave a press statement on the nature of Rafa's injury. What follows are my generalised comments gleaned from many different sources and people's attempts (mine included) at doing a Google mangle.
So the upshot is this. Rafa has a slight tear in his patellar tendon and in addition to this, he has patellar enthesopathy in the posterior fibres, and as we all know, he suffers from tedinopathy. He then also has the Hoffa's fat which surrounds the tendon which has become inflamed and this, of course, has caused the Hoffa's Syndrome.
Rafa'a team tried to get him ready to play both the Olympics and US Open using medical treatment, but it wasn't to be. He had tests two weeks ago and the team have continued with conservative treatment since then. They say that the tendons are progressing well, but the healing process is slow. Its a relief to know that surgery has been ruled out, and over the next month, Rafa will be under-going exercise, extensive physiotherapy, water therapy and laser treatment. The team are hoping that within two months, Rafa's tendons will be what is considered as "normal".
He has to continue to rest, but that rest is relative, as he will still be engaging in swimming, static bicycle and will undertake physiotherapy. In a month's time, Rafa will have further tests, and only if they prove to show progress and are positive, could Rafa return to the practice court. However, the doctor was clear in that Rafa returning to the court is NOT the principal objective, the tendons recovering their usual strength is the top priority.
As a consequence, I think we should steadfastly ignore the "Doctor says Nadal can return to the Count within one month" headlines.
Doctor Cottoro also said that there shouldn't be any reason for the injury to keep dragging on as there are cases of tendinitis healing up in a normal way. Rafa has apparently set his mind on recovery, and will come back as soon as possible.
So there we have it. No more need for any more explanations, I feel. No more need for continued barbs at Rafa's team and what they do and don't release about his injury - which actually in the main, don't even really come from Rafa's fans. I think we know as much as we need to know now. Rafa will rest up and take his treatment. Tests will decide what happens thereafter. I'm happy to leave it at that and hope and wish for Rafa's success in what he's undertaking. And most of all, for a healthy and speedy recovery.
We're waiting Rafa ... however long it takes.
I feel sad again, thinking of the disappointment he must have felt, wanting to compete in the Olympics plus the US Open, and then having to face the reality that it was not going to be. But, all that is now water under the bridge. Today's press conference brings, in my opinion anyway, positives: the diagnosis has been made, the treatment prescribed and being applied, and there is expected to be a good outcome. And the priorities are correct: getting fully healed FIRST, before returning to court. Fingers crossed for him.
ReplyDeleteYes mam, however long it takes. I live in the USA,SO, I'm ready for some football, US style. Go Cowboys! Rafa, you take good care of yourself, we'll be here rooting for you when you are ready. Thanks again for the sane update!!!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter how long it takes...all we want is a fit healthy Rafa at the end of it, that's all that matters now. They can all talk and speculate as much as they want to, he'll be ready when he's ready....and we'll be waiting:))
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